Altered Functional Brain Activity and Connectivity in Children with β-Thalassemia: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Motivation: Cognitive and functional impairments are common in β-Thalassemia (β-TM) patients, but functional brain alterations, particularly in children, are not well understood. Goal(s): Investigate functional brain activity and connectivity in children with β-TM using resting-state fMRI. Approach: Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from 49 β-TM children with cognitive impairments and 45 healthy controls to compare functional activity and ALFF between the groups. Results: β-TM patients showed reduced ALFF in the right frontal pole, precuneus, and left precentral gyrus. Increased connectivity was observed between the right posterior parietal cortex and anterior cerebellum, with decreased connectivity between the anterior cerebellum and left lateral visual cortex. Impact: This study reveals dysfunction in several brain regions in children with β-TM, particularly in the frontal pole, precuneus, and visual cortex. These findings may enhance understanding of cognitive impairment mechanisms and support the development of targeted interventions for β-TM.